Mock election teaches Gil St. Bernard students in Gladstone to broaden views on world issues

For the seventh consecutive presidential election year, Gill St. Bernard’s will join more than 100 high schools nationwide in a mock election process known as V.O.T.E.S., or Voting Opportunities for Teenagers in Every State.

A program co-founded by history teachers Jim Shea and Lorrie Byrom from the Northfield Mount Hermon School of Mass. in 1988, V.O.T.E.S. teaches students grades nine through 12 about the democratic process, tests their political savvy and prepares them to perform one of the nation’s most important duties, voting. “This hands-on mock election process allows teenagers to be active participants in the political process, rather than merely passive observers,” said Shea.

With more than 60,000 — or approximately 80 percent — of all adolescents from participating schools casting ballots in each V.O.T.E.S. election, this contest has accurately predicted five of the past six presidential election outcomes. As one of 35 participants in the program since its establishment 24 years ago, Gill St. Bernard’s is distinguished for its extensive campaign plan, which not only includes five presidential parties, but also a campaign rally introduces student-candidates on Oct. 11, a presidential/vice presidential debate on Oct. 16 and a press conference on Oct. 26 — all are held prior to V.O.T.E.S.’ Oct. 30 election day.

Representing Gill St. Bernard’s five parties at each of the above events during the 2012 V.O.T.E.S. election process will be the following student-candidates:

According to the school’s History Department chair of 27 years, John Ripton of Lebanon Township, including all five parties in this mock election provides students with a deeper understanding of world issues which might not be discussed during televised public debates. “This is an educational forum about citizenship as much as it is a forum about the election itself,” he said.

Aside from receiving guidance from Ripton, who has spearheaded the school’s participation in V.O.T.E.S. since its inception, AP American Government instructor William Diamond incorporates the V.O.T.E.S. campaign into class research and writing as well. Each student-candidate also works closely with a faculty advisor and selected campaign committee members to distribute flyers, create posters and write speeches throughout the election process.

Over the years, participating V.O.T.E.S. schools have been identified as some of the best high schools in the country and several have been listed on Newsweek’s list of top schools as well as the Department of Education’s list of “blue ribbon” schools. Other participating New Jersey high schools in the 2012 V.O.T.E.S. election include both Princeton High School and Watchung Hills Regional High School.